RECORD CROWD AT ST JAMES'S PARK

Monday, December 26. 1921

EXETER CITY O-2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE  Attendance 16000 

Last season: City 1 Argyle 1.

Exeter City have experienced a highly unprofitable week-end at St James's Park.

On Saturday they gave a somewhat feeble performance against Watford, losing by three goals to one, and on Boxing Day they went under to Plymouth Argyle by two clear goals. The second defeat was not unexpected, especially in view of the several changes which had to be made, due to injuries, which weakened the combination. In both games the City started well and more than held their own, but for the greater part they failed to inspire confidence.

THE CITY

Fryer
Gaskell Stewart
Crompton Mitton Wilson
Newman Hill Bullock Vowles Dockray

ARGYLE:
Fred Craig, Billy Forbes, Moses Russell, Jimmy Dickinson, Jack Hill, Alf Rowe, Patsy Corcoran, Jack Fowler, Frank Richardson, Bertie Bowler, Jack Leslie.


All roads led to St James's Park on Boxing Day, when the great Devon Derby was down for decision, and a record crowd, numbering sixteen thousand, was present. Both teams were below strength, but an excellent game resulted. The game was not altogether free from shady tactics and the referee had to exercise his authority with some frequency.

The Argyle crossed over at half-time with a goal lead, scored by Richardson. It was Bowler who made a clever opening, and sent Fowler away. The inside right from Mardy tricked two opponents and gave Richardson a perfect opening. This he promptly accepted, by heading the ball into the net. The City, after this reverse, woke up, and had the teams crossed over on level terms it would have been nothing more than the Grecians deserved.

The second half favoured the Argyle, whose forwards were, for the most part, altogether too clever for the Exeter defence, and Fryer and his backs were kept on tenter-hooks.

Plymouth's second goal came as the result of an almost perfect understanding between their forwards. Russell brought well up the field and gave to Leslie, who outpaced Crompton and then sent into the goalmouth for Fowler to apply bit. the ball the finishing

In the closing stages the game became unnecessarily rough, and knock-outs were frequent. Jack Hill had to leave the field, while Richardson was also injured and went on the right wing.

FROM THE WESTERN MORNING NEWS AND MERCURY"

The crowd at the Plymouth Argyle match was easily the largest for the season, numbering about sixteen thousand, including a few thousand from Plymouth.

There was early promise of a strenuous struggle. In the first fifteen minutes the City were seen at their best. Newman banged in a scoring shot which Russell cleverly diverted, and then Bullock, taking the ball away from Russell, sent in a shot which Craig had to dive full length for, and he managed to turn the ball round the post.

Bullock had another shot saved by Craig, and Vowles, with the goal at his mercy, fired wide from a few yards out. Thenceforth the Argyle held the upper hand, and Richardson headed a nice goal from Fowler's centre.

City a Beaten Team.

Mid-way through the second half Fowler added the second goal, from Leslie's centre after the ball had been brought well forward by Russell. The City were evidently a beaten side, being outplayed and outpaced in all departments.

Bullock tried hard in the centre, but was closely watched by J.Hill, and he had little support from either P.Hill or Vowles. Vowles did little worthy of mention, and no improvement was effected when he changed places with Dockray. There was no method in the attack, and Forbes and Russell experienced no difficulty in dealing with occasional rushes.

Mitton did as much as could be expected of him, and the backs, without being brilliant, played a hard game. The Argyle, who were the superior team in the second half, seldom appeared to exert themselves. Their front line displayed a good understanding of each other's play.

Leslie had little to do, but as far as the scoring of the goals were concerned it was mainly to him that the Argyle owed their victory. The defence was solid, with Jack Hill the keystone.

Play degenerated into a "rough and tumble" in the closing ten minutes, and two Argyle players had to leave the field, due to injury."

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Argyle Reserves 7-0 City Reserves:

A weak Exeter City reserve team, which included a number of amateurs, was completely outclassed by Plymouth Argyle Reserves at Home Park.

The City defence withstood constant pressure until 15 minutes from the interval, when the Argyle scored four times in very quick succession through Smith (who performed the "hat-trick"), and the amateur, H.W. Raymond.

In the second half Raymond, Smith, and Kirk scored three more goals for the Argyle, who thus won by seven clear goals.

The only worthwhile feature of the City's performance was the brilliant goalkeeping of Watson, against impossible odds.